Backpacks | Pad Patter 8.4.23

[umyesh]

Happy August everyone!

I am in the thick of back-to-school shopping so let’s chat about backpacks today.

When’s the last time you used a backpack?
How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up?
Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks?

 

[umyesh]

When’s the last time you used a backpack?
I use a backpack when we travel so I used one last weekend. I packed it full of car snacks and charging cables.

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up?
I can’t remember. Maybe every other year or when the old one wore out? We would go to an outlet store as a family and pick them.

Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks?
I’ve realized this year that I have no idea where to buy backpacks! Is there a backpack store I don’t know about? I’ve found some on Amazon and at Kohls. My oldest really wanted a green backpack but I haven’t seen any green ones other than army green and that’s not the green she wants. She settled for a gray High Sierra backpack with lots of pockets which we found on Amazon.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I'm so old that backpacks weren't a thing when I was in school. In elementary school I carried a book bag similar to this one:

Oops, sorry it's so big.

In middle and high school girls just carried their books in their arms, or had their boyfriends carry them:

My kids got backpacks as needed, as did the live-in GK, usually every other year. My youngest grandson recently applied for a job (HVAC) and he was given a Nike backpack filled with a company t-shirt, a nice stainless steel water bottle and some other stuff.

Edited to add: I usually use a backpack as my carry-on bag when flying. Otherwise I rarely use on.

 

[umyesh]

I'm so old that backpacks weren't a thing when I was in school. In elementary school I carried a book bag similar to this one:

Oops, sorry it's so big.

In middle and high school girls just carried their books in their arms, or had their boyfriends carry them:

My kids got backpacks as needed, as did the live-in GK, usually every other year. My youngest grandson recently applied for a job (HVAC) and he was given a Nike backpack filled with a company t-shirt, a nice stainless steel water bottle and some other stuff.

Edited to add: I usually use a backpack as my carry-on bag when flying. Otherwise I rarely use on.

That book bag is so cute! I use a backpack as my carry-on bag too.

 

[HavaDrPepper]

Like @Memaw2Wm I'm of the age group that didn't have backpacks when in school. I didn't have a bookbag either! I just carried my books along with my clarinet case on a daily basis. Even during my right out of high school college years I didn't have a backpack. Only 1 quarter did I have all my classes back to back to back to back to back. They were all in the same room so once I got there I was good until I left 6 hours later. The other quarters had my classes more spread out so that I only had books for maybe 2 classes to carry at a time.

I did have a backpack when I went back to school almost 20 years later to get my accounting degree at a local technical school. I'm not really fond of backpacks since I have issues with my lower back.

When I did travel I had several big shoulder bags that I would use. I was given a backpack as a souvenir on the cruise I took but I would carry it on my shoulder when I did use it (which wasn't often). It was a smaller backpack with string for the straps.

To this day I still prefer big shoulder bags.

 

[IntenseMagic]

So funny you should bring this up today lol We have been backpack shopping online and trying to figure out where we can get a good one close by this weekend. It's tax-free weekend here.

When’s the last time you used a backpack? Year before last. Last year I used a crossbody and everything got lost in it. I'd really like to have a new one this year, I'm just undecided on which one.

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up? Backpacks were not a thing when I was in school. No one, and I mean no one, carried one. My kids usually got a new one every year or every other year.

Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks? Chance is looking at a North Face one at Dicks. We've gotten different ones from TJ Maxx, Amazon, Kohls, Target. Sometimes, if the kids wanted like Nike or Under Armour, we'd check out the outlet stores.

 

[umyesh]

Like @Memaw2Wm I'm of the age group that didn't have backpacks when in school. I didn't have a bookbag either! I just carried my books along with my clarinet case on a daily basis. Even during my right out of high school college years I didn't have a backpack. Only 1 quarter did I have all my classes back to back to back to back to back. They were all in the same room so once I got there I was good until I left 6 hours later. The other quarters had my classes more spread out so that I only had books for maybe 2 classes to carry at a time.

I did have a backpack when I went back to school almost 20 years later to get my accounting degree at a local technical school. I'm not really fond of backpacks since I have issues with my lower back.

When I did travel I had several big shoulder bags that I would use. I was given a backpack as a souvenir on the cruise I took but I would carry it on my shoulder when I did use it (which wasn't often). It was a smaller backpack with string for the straps.

To this day I still prefer big shoulder bags.

I think I’d go stir crazy if all my classes were in the same room for six hours straight!

I can definitely understand why you don’t like backpacks because of lower back issues.

 

[umyesh]

So funny you should bring this up today lol We have been backpack shopping online and trying to figure out where we can get a good one close by this weekend. It's tax-free weekend here.

When’s the last time you used a backpack? Year before last. Last year I used a crossbody and everything got lost in it. I'd really like to have a new one this year, I'm just undecided on which one.

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up? Backpacks were not a thing when I was in school. No one, and I mean no one, carried one. My kids usually got a new one every year or every other year.

Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks? Chance is looking at a North Face one at Dicks. We've gotten different ones from TJ Maxx, Amazon, Kohls, Target. Sometimes, if the kids wanted like Nike or Under Armour, we'd check out the outlet stores.

Good luck with your search Jan!

It’s so weird to me that no one carried a backpack! I wouldn’t have survived high school without one.

 

[HavaDrPepper]

I think I’d go stir crazy if all my classes were in the same room for six hours straight!

Well, they were specialized classes so they needed to be in a room specifically for them (business education prep classes, desks were office desks). The classes themselves were 50 minutes long for maybe 4 of them. So there was a 10 minute break between classes. There was about a 30 minute break before the last class started around 1:30 and it was 1 hr 40 min. Then I was done for the day. And, it was only 3 days a week on Mon-Wed-Fri for the short classes. 2 days a week for the longer class, Mon and Wed. If I remember right, there was an area that we would go to during the break not far from the classroom (or even outside if the weather was nice). We could leave our books there. If we all left, the door was locked but sometimes a few of the students would stay there and study while eating the brown bag lunch. There were a lot of commuter students at my college and in these classes so they wouldn't leave campus during that time. I did live in a dorm and could go there if I wanted since it was close by but I usually stuck around.

I met 2 of my best friends from college in those classes. The one girl met her husband in those classes as well. I was in their wedding. Sadly, she battled cancer for several years and died the day before her 65th birthday. Her husband has had his own health issues since then. But the other friend and I are still in contact... 48 years later.

 

[RebeccaH]

i use a backpack often. i have a laptop backpack that i carry my work computer in. i also have a few purse backpacks when we're going somewhere that requires carrying a bit more than normal... the backpack keeps the weight more evenly distributed on my shoulders than a regular purse would. i just used a backpack this week for hiking. we've learned the hard way not to go out in the woods without first aid supplies, so we carry that with us when we go.

when i was young i think i got a new backpack nearly every year. i tended to use things without much care, so they never seemed to hold up from one year to the next. lol

i don't have a favorite place to buy them. just wherever i see them.

 

[dawnmarch]

I use a backpack camera bag when I have a photoshoot. i ALSO have a really cute LuluLemon small backpack that I sometimes use when we travel and I want to have something easy to tote around.

 

[umyesh]

Well, they were specialized classes so they needed to be in a room specifically for them (business education prep classes, desks were office desks). The classes themselves were 50 minutes long for maybe 4 of them. So there was a 10 minute break between classes. There was about a 30 minute break before the last class started around 1:30 and it was 1 hr 40 min. Then I was done for the day. And, it was only 3 days a week on Mon-Wed-Fri for the short classes. 2 days a week for the longer class, Mon and Wed. If I remember right, there was an area that we would go to during the break not far from the classroom (or even outside if the weather was nice). We could leave our books there. If we all left, the door was locked but sometimes a few of the students would stay there and study while eating the brown bag lunch. There were a lot of commuter students at my college and in these classes so they wouldn't leave campus during that time. I did live in a dorm and could go there if I wanted since it was close by but I usually stuck around.

I met 2 of my best friends from college in those classes. The one girl met her husband in those classes as well. I was in their wedding. Sadly, she battled cancer for several years and died the day before her 65th birthday. Her husband has had his own health issues since then. But the other friend and I are still in contact... 48 years later.

I guess six hours is doable if there are sufficient breaks. I love that you made lifelong friends from those classes.

 

[ScrappyHappy82]

When’s the last time you used a backpack?

My daughter and I went to Europe in March/April and we both used backpacks daily there. Before that it was October when we flew to Disneyland for the long weekend and didn't want to bother with luggage. We have a bunch of them around the house but we don't actually use them often yet I can't seem to get rid of them. Too much travel potential I guess?! Lol..

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up?

I have absolutely no memories of my backpacks except for two. I begged my mom for a duffle bag in middle school. A big black Nike one which was SO COOL! Except it wasn't because it hurt my shoulders so much and then we moved middle of the school year and no other kids had a bag like mine. They all had the cooler Jansports with the leather bottoms. Remember those? Well, that's what I got the next year and when we moved back to my tiny town that summer I was ahead of the game.


Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks?

Not particularly but we always buy Jansports - the Big Student ones - because they are large enough, have lots of different pockets and they hold up! The smaller cheaper Jansports, not so much. Now they all come in so many cuter colors and designs than when I was young!

 

[umyesh]

i use a backpack often. i have a laptop backpack that i carry my work computer in. i also have a few purse backpacks when we're going somewhere that requires carrying a bit more than normal... the backpack keeps the weight more evenly distributed on my shoulders than a regular purse would. i just used a backpack this week for hiking. we've learned the hard way not to go out in the woods without first aid supplies, so we carry that with us when we go.

when i was young i think i got a new backpack nearly every year. i tended to use things without much care, so they never seemed to hold up from one year to the next. lol

i don't have a favorite place to buy them. just wherever i see them.

I'm glad you get a lot of use out of backpacks. Taking first aid supplies while hiking is always a good idea; I feel like I need to start packing them to sporting events too!

 

[umyesh]

I use a backpack camera bag when I have a photoshoot. i ALSO have a really cute LuluLemon small backpack that I sometimes use when we travel and I want to have something easy to tote around.

A backpack is a good idea for photo shoots. My second daughter is obsessed with mini backpacks. She just got a really cute one at Disneyland and might even use it for school this year.

 

[umyesh]

When’s the last time you used a backpack?

My daughter and I went to Europe in March/April and we both used backpacks daily there. Before that it was October when we flew to Disneyland for the long weekend and didn't want to bother with luggage. We have a bunch of them around the house but we don't actually use them often yet I can't seem to get rid of them. Too much travel potential I guess?! Lol..

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up?

I have absolutely no memories of my backpacks except for two. I begged my mom for a duffle bag in middle school. A big black Nike one which was SO COOL! Except it wasn't because it hurt my shoulders so much and then we moved middle of the school year and no other kids had a bag like mine. They all had the cooler Jansports with the leather bottoms. Remember those? Well, that's what I got the next year and when we moved back to my tiny town that summer I was ahead of the game.


Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks?

Not particularly but we always buy Jansports - the Big Student ones - because they are large enough, have lots of different pockets and they hold up! The smaller cheaper Jansports, not so much. Now they all come in so many cuter colors and designs than when I was young!

My daughter is considering a Jansport Big Student one! I'm impressed by all the different colors and designs too!

 

[Karen]

When’s the last time you used a backpack? I use a backpack quite often when we go biking to our friends house for BBQ and to sit around their fire in the evenings. I always pack a sweatshirt, and then snacks or food. Then my hubby takes his backpack cooler for beverages.

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up? Only when it would no longer hold books and couldn't be repaired.

Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks? The last time we tried to get my son a new backpack, it wasn't back-to-school season and we couldn't find any in the stores. It was really annoying, but we ended up finding him a great one on Amazon. I would have much rather been able to see the size in my hands and touch the fabric in person, but we didn't have a choice. My current backpack is one I found at a garage sale for 50 cents!

 

[umyesh]

When’s the last time you used a backpack? I use a backpack quite often when we go biking to our friends house for BBQ and to sit around their fire in the evenings. I always pack a sweatshirt, and then snacks or food. Then my hubby takes his backpack cooler for beverages.

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up? Only when it would no longer hold books and couldn't be repaired.

Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks? The last time we tried to get my son a new backpack, it wasn't back-to-school season and we couldn't find any in the stores. It was really annoying, but we ended up finding him a great one on Amazon. I would have much rather been able to see the size in my hands and touch the fabric in person, but we didn't have a choice. My current backpack is one I found at a garage sale for 50 cents!

I never thought about backpack shopping off season; I’ll make sure to avoid that. Yay for your awesome garage sale find!

 

[Memaw2Wm]

They all had the cooler Jansports with the leather bottoms. Remember those? Well, that's what I got the next year and when we moved back to my tiny town that summer I was ahead of the game.

Yep, my kids had Jansports backpacks. Two older GK had a variety of backpacks, youngest (17) had Lands End backpacks in elementary school, but insisted on Nike backpacks one he hit middle school (7th grade).

 

[amien1]

When’s the last time you used a backpack?
Long time- maybe when kids were babies and I used one for a diaper bag

How often did you get a new backpack for school when you were growing up?
Maybe every 2 years or so. We wouldn't get a new one unless our old one was broken or not useful.

Do you have a favorite place to buy backpacks?
I love the pottery barn backpacks. They aren't any more expensive than other places and they are very well made and lastmy kids at least 2 years of school- even my son who tends to destroy his supplies much faster than my daughter.